Physical Geography of Europe

Europe: A Peninsula of Peninsulas? Or…Europe: A Peninsula of Peninsulas? Or…

OROR

A Peninsula of Asia?A Peninsula of Asia?

Northern PeninsulasNorthern Peninsulas

Jutland Peninsula

Scandinavian Peninsula

Southern PeninsulasSouthern Peninsulas

Iberian Peninsula

Italian Peninsula

Balkan Peninsula

AnatoleanPeninsula

CrimeanPeninsula

1500

mile

s

Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide”Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide”

The Urals divide the European & Asian sections of Russia.

The Ural MountainsThe Ural Mountains

Alpine Mountain System

The Alps…France, Switzerland,

Italy, & AustriaNOT a barrier to trade

as mountain passages are low.

Apennines• Mountainous spine of the Italian

boot, volcanic activity

Vesuvius, Pompeii

Mt. Etna, Sicily

Fjords • Narrow deep inlets of the sea between high rocky cliffs.

• Carved out by glaciers at the last ice age as the ice retreated

• Coast of Norway & Iceland

Fjords

Why are most of the capitals of Europe on major rivers??

Why are most of the capitals of Europe on major rivers??

Capitals on the Rivers (1)Capitals on the Rivers (1)

Paris, right bank of the SeineParis, right bank of the SeineLondon on the ThamesLondon on the Thames

Prague on the VltavaPrague on the Vltava Budapest on the DanubeBudapest on the Danube

Capitals on the Rivers (2)Capitals on the Rivers (2)

Berlin on the SpreeBerlin on the SpreeMoscow on the Moscow RiverMoscow on the Moscow River

Rome on the TiberRome on the Tiber Vienna on the DanubeVienna on the Danube

Rivers are Europe’s lifeline –A resource, as well astransportation system for goods & people

Rivers are Europe’s lifeline –A resource, as well astransportation system for goods & people

The Volga RiverThe Volga River

Longest river in Europe = 2,300 miles long.Extremely polluted by the Soviets!!

2nd longest river in Europe. Important for trade & hydroelectric power .

The Danube RiverThe Danube River

Lake Baikal, SiberiaLake Baikal, Siberia•The oldest and deepest lake in the world.

•20% of the world’s totalunfrozen water supply.

Iceland:Iceland:• Volcanoes• Hot Springs• Geysers

Reykjavik

Mediterranean IslandsMediterranean Islands•Mountainous•Polluted waters - estimated it will take 1,000years to clean up

Sardinia

Cyprus

Malta

English Channel: Body of water between England & France.

Connects the Atlantic Ocean & the North Sea.

The “Chunnel Tunnel”

• "Chunnel" links the UK & France.

• Chunnel Tunnel: beneath the English Channel.

• Travel by train or take car on ferry boat.

POLDERS

Climate

Europe’s Latitude v. USEurope’s Latitude v. US

North Atlantic

Drift

• The Northern part of Western Europe has a marine west coast climate with mild cool summers and warm winters due to the NAD and prevailing westerly winds.

Climate Zones

Vegetation Zones

Siberia --> PermafrostSiberia --> Permafroste Average temperatures of January vary from 32 to -58 (winter) and in

July from 34 to 77!! ePopulation is 40 million (1/4 of the Russian population, yet ¾ of the landmass)e Served as a “gulag” (Soviet prison camp).

Environmental Issues in Europe:

1. Acid Rain (Central Europe, Scandinavia – as well as Eastern North America)

2. Air Pollution (United Kingdom)

3. Nuclear Disaster (Chernobyl, Ukraine)

Acid Rain• Precipitation + pollution = acid rain

• Cause: burning of coal, gas, & oil by cars, factories, & power plants

• Harms the environment and…

a) damages statues, buildings, & bridges,

b) has killed entire fish populations

c) can harm forests and soil

Air Pollution/Smog Fog + pollution = Smog •Destroys plant life•Causes breathing problems•Causes building materials to deteriorate faster than usual